Brad Keselowski shared insights about racing on concrete surfaces as NASCAR prepares for its event at Nashville Superspeedway this Sunday. Out of the 26 NASCAR Cup Series tracks, only four feature concrete surfaces: Bristol, Dover, Martinsville, and Nashville. While the majority of races take place on asphalt, Keselowski emphasized that concrete tracks require different techniques and pose distinctive challenges.
Keselowski, a seasoned driver and co-owner of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, has six wins on concrete, but Nashville remains elusive with no top-10 Cup finishes in four prior attempts. His experience racing asphalt tracks does not fully translate to the unique demands presented by concrete venues.
Keselowski’s History and Connection with Nashville Superspeedway
Although Keselowski has yet to reach the winner’s circle in the Cup Series at Nashville, the track holds personal significance for him. His first NASCAR victory, dating back to 2008 in the Xfinity Series, occurred at Nashville while racing for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports. Over 10 Xfinity starts at the track, Keselowski accumulated two wins and seven top-five finishes, reflecting his strong performance at the venue.
Seventeen years after his initial win, Keselowski aims to break through in the Cup Series this weekend on Nashville’s 1.333-mile concrete surface, which holds unique characteristics not shared by the shorter concrete tracks Bristol, Martinsville, and Dover.
We have had some really good runs at Nashville (but just) haven’t been able to get the finish on the Cup side,
Keselowski said.
Concrete Racing Requires Greater Focus and Precision, Says Keselowski
Keselowski emphasized that concrete tracks demand heightened discipline due to their unforgiving nature. Unlike asphalt, concrete surfaces make it much harder for drivers to correct their cars once they lose control, increasing the risk of spinning out or damaging the vehicle.
What I have always enjoyed about it is that the concrete is just really, really unforgiving and takes a lot of discipline,
Keselowski remarked.
When you get sideways the car is much more difficult to recover, generally. I just think it is a different type of racing than asphalt racing.
While Keselowski has found success on concrete tracks before—with three wins at Bristol, two at Martinsville, and one at Dover—Nashville’s longer track length of 1.333 miles offers a unique test, combining speed with the precision needed to manage the concrete surface.
It is something different, interesting, that kind of breaks up the schedule a little bit,
Keselowski said.
We have to survive the restarts and bring speed. I think we can do both of those.
Keselowski Aims to Improve on Past Nashville Performances
Keselowski’s previous Cup Series outings at Nashville have been challenging, with only one finish close to the top-10—a recent 11th place in 2023—while the other three races resulted in finishes outside the top 20. Despite these setbacks, he enters the upcoming race with optimism fueled by momentum from his recent performance.
Last Sunday at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, Keselowski secured a fifth-place finish, marking his best result so far in the 2025 season and his first top-10 this year. This progress is crucial as Keselowski currently sits 32nd in the points standings, just outside the playoff cut line for the top 30 drivers.
It is an exciting time for us, outside of looking at where we are in the point standings,
Keselowski said.
We need to build off of (the Charlotte momentum) and incrementally inch our way up to being able to win,
he continued.
I think we are really close to that right now. Trying not to jump the shark on that is important. But last week was a really positive moment for us.
Keselowski highlighted that the final run at Charlotte bolstered his confidence, noting the team’s ability to overtake multiple cars and post the fastest laps, all indicators that winning is within reach.
Looking Ahead: NASCAR’s Nashville Race and Keselowski’s Goals
The upcoming race at Nashville Superspeedway represents an opportunity for Keselowski to finally secure a strong Cup Series finish on a concrete surface he respects for its difficulty. The balance required to be fast while staying controlled on the unforgiving concrete will be key to his success.
With his past concrete wins at Bristol, Martinsville, and Dover fueling his determination, Keselowski looks to leverage his experience while overcoming Nashville’s unique demands. A strong Sunday result would improve his playoff chances and add a milestone win at a venue where his NASCAR career began.